Automatic cut-off for cisterns.



No. 722,214. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. A. DEMING 6: J. T. TULLY. AUTOMATIC GUT-OFF FOR. GISTERNS.

10 MODEL.

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AI DEMING AND JOHN T. TULLY, OF TERRE IIAUTE, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF FOR CISTERNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,214, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed $eptember 29, 1902. Serial No. 125,288. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe,AI DEMINoand J OHN '1. TULLY, citizens of the United States, residing at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Out- Offs for Oisterns; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cut-offs for cisterns; and the object is to construct a device of this character which will automatically change the direction or course of the water running from a roofafter enough of such water has run over and d the same to the wastepipe to cleanse the roof, at which time the device herein to be described and claimed will automatically direct the water from the roof to the cistern-pipe.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be simple in construction, durable and efficient in use, and well adapted to the use for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,in Which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device; and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, showing in full lines the parts raised and in dotted lines the parts lowered.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the rain pipe or spout of a roof, which is connected at its upper end to the gutter in the usual manner and formed near its lower end into branch pipes 2 and 3, leading, respectively, to a ditch or other place of discharge and to a cistern. (Not shown.) At some point in the length of the spout, preferably just above the connection of the branch pipes 2 and 3, a section of the spout 1 is removed or left out, and in the space thus left is interposed the improved cut-out 4, comprising a straight section 5, the upper end of which is adapted to receive the lower end of the upper sections of the spout 1, and the lower end of the section 5 is reduced and adapted to enter the open end of the lower sections of the spout 1 just above the connection of the branch pipes. This section 5 fits the endsof the spout 1 loosely and is adapted to readily slide on and in the same.

6 denotes a short inclined pipe connected to and communicating with the section 5, about midway the length thereof, and formed at its outer end with an elbow 7, the downwardlyprojectiug end of which enters a bucket or receptacle 8, removably carried thereby, for a purpose hereinafter to appear.

9 denotes catches for holding the bucket 8 onto the end of the elbow 7.

10 denotes an upright bar or lever pivotally connected at its lower end to the pipe 6, the upper end of the same being connected to the inner end of an inclined lever 12, pivoted to the side of the house or to other fixed support. This lever carries at its opposite end a counterbalancing weight 13, which is of such weight as to support the section 5 and bucket 8 normally in a raised position; but when said bucket has filled with water the weight 13 is overbalanced, and the section 5 and bucket S will lower.

1 1 denotes a valve or gate located within the spout 1 at the point of juncture of the same with the branch pipes 2 and 3. The valve 1& consists of a flat plate of proper shape fixed at its lower end to a rock-shaft 15, the ends of which are journaled in the walls of the spout 1, whereby when said shaft is rocked the valve is moved to close the upper ends of one or the other of the branch pipes 2 and 3 and when in such position acts also as a deflector, directing the water from spout 1 into the end of the open or uncovered pipe. One end of the rock-shaft 15 projects slightly beyond the outside of the spout and has fixed thereto a crank-arm 16, to the free end of which is connected arod or lever 17, the opposite end of which is connected to the short inclined pipe 6.

The bucket 8 is formed with a conical or funnel-shaped bottom 18, in the apex of which is a small opening or outlet 19, whereby the water contained in the bucket is allowed to slowly drip out, which after a time allows the bucket to be raised by the weighted lever 12,

and thereby shift the valve 14 to close the cistern-pipe and open the waste-pipe, as hereinbefore described.

2O denotes a shelf or deflector-plate fixed to the lower end of the upper section of the spout 1, which when the section 5 is in its upper position will be opposite the opening of the short pipe 6, communicating with the bucket 8, whereby by a portion of the water coming down the spout 1 will be deflected into the pipe 6 and conducted to the bucket 8. The upper edge of the pipe 6, which enters the section 5, projects slightly into said section and forms a hood which when the section 5 is lowered will prevent any more Water entering the pipe 6 until the said section again rises.

In operation the first water caught by the roof in a rain-storm is allowed, with the dirt and dust washed ofi by the same, to pass off through the waste-pipe in the usual manner, except that a portion of the water is deflected by the shelf 20 into the short pipe 6 and is conducted to the bucket 8, which when filled will overbalance the weight on lever 12 and be allowed to lower, taking with it the pipesection 5 and connected parts. This downward movement rocks the shaft 15 and shifts the valve or gate 14 from over the cisternpipe and covers up the waste-pipe, thereby causing the water to now flow into the cistern. In the meantime the water caught by bucket 8 is slowly dripping therefrom, and when sufficient water has escaped from the bucket the same, together with the section 5, will be raised by the weight 13 on lever 12 to their normal positions and ready to again be acted on by the Water from the roof.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of the device'will be readily apparent.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cut-01f for cisterns and the like, the combination with the stationary pipe or rainspout communicating at its lower end with branch pipes, of a vertically-moving section of pipe disposed in the line of said stationary pipe, a valve or gate located within said stationary pipe and adapted to open and close said branch pipes, and means carried by said vertically-moving sectionflto automatically operate said valve or gate, substantially as described.

2. In a cut-01f for cisterns and the like, the combination with the stationary pipe or rainspout communicating at its lower end with branch pipes, of a vertically-moving section of pipe disposed in the line of said stationary pipe, a bucket carried by said movable section, a short elbow-pipe communicating between said bucket and said movable section, means for deflecting a portion of the water passing through said section into said pipe and bucket, by the weight of which said section is lowered, a valve or gate arranged in said stationary pipe and adapted to open and close said branch pipes, an operating rod or lever connecting saidvalve with a part of said moving section whereby when said section is raised or lowered said valve will be shifted, and means for governing the raising and lowering of said movable section, substantially as described.

In a cut-off for cisterns and the like, the combination with the stationary pipe or rainspout communicating at its lower end with branch pipes, of a vertically-moving section of pipe disposed in the line of said stationary pipe, a bucket carried by said movable section, a short elbow-pipe communicating between said bucket and said movable section, means for deflecting a portion'of the water passing through said section into said pipe andbucket, by the weight of which said section is lowered, a valve or gate arranged in said stationary pipe and adapted to open and close said branch pipes, an operating rod or lever connecting said valve with a part of said moving section whereby when said section is raised or lowered said valve will be shifted, an opening formed in the lower end of said bucket whereby the water therein is allowed to slowly escape, and a counterbalancing-weight connected to a part of said movable section, whereby, upon the escape of the water from the bucket, the said section and its connected parts will be restored to their normal positions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AI DEMING. JOHN T. TULLY. 4

Witnesses:

FRED. J. BIEL, J. P. LEASE. 

